Norfleet adds Tennessee to his list

Josh Helmholdt | Recruiting Analyst

After posting an outstanding junior season at Detroit's Martin Luther King High, running back Dennis Norfleet has continued to impress at camps and combines this winter despite juggling responsibilities with his basketball team.

Tennessee is one of the schools that has been impressed with Norfleet's abilities, and on Wednesday the Volunteers offered him a scholarship.

"I was getting ready for a basketball game when I got called out from shooting some free throws and got the good news from my football coach that I had been offered by Tennessee," Norfleet reported. "It was pretty exciting. I have been writing Tennessee for a long time, so for them to get back to me with an offer is a pretty big thing for me."

Norfleet had previously been offered by Michigan State and Cincinnati and has been hearing from schools across the country. The offer from Tennessee is one that is particularly special for the Detroit back.

"That has been one of my schools for a long time," Norfleet said. "I just like the way everything is there. I like the coaches, I like the players and it is one of the teams that I watch. I just look up to them and like the school."

Norfleet was unable to follow up with the Tennessee coaches today because his team was playing a second round state basketball tournament game, but he plans to give them a call tomorrow.

Due to his basketball responsibilities, Norfleet has been unable to devote much time to the recruiting process. Outside of a 7-on-7 tournament in April, Norfleet does not have any trips planned in the coming weeks and he has not begun to consider favorites.

"I'm taking every offer as an equal thing," Norfleet said. "No offer is bigger than any other offer right now. I'm just sitting back and enjoying whatever offers are coming in right now. I am not moving too quick and being patient for right now."

Besides the three schools that have offered, Norfleet continues to receive interest from other BCS Conference programs around the country.

"Alabama is sending a lot of paper," Norfleet said. "Iowa and Clemson as well, but that's it for right now."

As a junior, Norfleet rushed for 1,880 yards and 31 touchdowns. He then went out and earned second team all-combine honors at the U.S. Army Junior Combine in January and was named one of Rivals.com's top performers at the Best of the Midwest Showcase and the Badger Sports Elite 7-on-7 Tournament last month.